Electric vaporizer



Nov. 6, 1934.

M. KATZMAN 1,980,066 ELECTRIC VAPORI ZER Filed March 3, 1950 liquid gap.

PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC YAPORIZER Max Katzman, Utica, N. Y., assignor toKal Manufactoring Company, Inc., Utica, N. Y., a cor--y poration of NewYork Application March 3,1930', Serial No. l@32,841

12 Claims.

This invention relates to an electric liquidvaporizer in which a pair ofelectrodes are enclosed within and supported by an insulating blockwhich in turn is mounted upon and suspended from the cover of the liquidcontainer in such manner that thev lower end thereof in which theelectrodes are incorporated is immersed in 'the liquid and provided withpassages above and vbelow the electrodes to allow the circulation of theliquid therethrough and between said electrodes so that when the latterare energized the short circuit of the current across the interveninggap will rapidly convert the liquid into vapor until the level of theliquid drops below the electrodes at which time the circuit willbeautomatically broken.

This device is adapted to be used more particularly for medicinalpurposes for vaporizing l medicated liquids and discharging the vaporinto the room in which the affected person is located to 'be inhaled bythat person, but it is obvious that the saine device may be used forvaporizing any other liquid.

The main object is to entirely enclose and conceal the electrodes withinand upon an insulating block which in turn is secured-to and supportedby the cover of the container so that when the cover with the insulatedelectrodes thereon is removed from the container while the electrodesare still connected in the heater circuit the cover and insulator may behandled with perfect safety and without danger of contact of theelectrodes with the hands or other external objects,

Another object is to provide the insulatorwith liquid passages at thelower and upper edges of the electrodes to permit free circulation ofthe water through the intervening gap between the electrodes to theexterior of the insulatoi` and thereby to assure a rapid conversion ofthe liquid into vapor with a minimum consumption of current energy. i

Another object is to make the insulator jin hall sections identical inconstruction so that both may be castor molded in one and the same mold.,y

Another object is to make both of the electrodes and their supportingconductors identical in construction so that both may be made from oneand the same pattern.

A further object is to construct the sections di the insulator and theelectrode members in such manner that when the parts are assembled theelectrodes will automatically be vsecured in properly spaced relation toform the intervening Another object is to provide the upper ends of thehalf sections of the insulator with similar reduced extensions threadedexternally for passage through an opening in the cover to been-'- gagedby a clamping nut which serves the double purpose of locking the twohalf sections to- Figure 2 is a vertical sectional View taken in theplane of line 2-2, of Figure l.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken in the plane of line 3 3,Figure 2. v

Figure 4 is a perspective View of one of the half sections of theinsulator block.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of one of the electrodes and its electricconducting support.

As illustrated the liquid container comprises a relatively small jar l,preferably of glass or other suitable insulating material, having arelatively large opening 2 in its upper end adapted to be normallyclosed by a cap or cover section 3 which, in this instance, is providedwith a downwardly projectingmarginal threaded flange 3 adapted'for screwengagement with corresponding peripheral threads on the upper end of thecontainer to permit the removal of the cover when desired.

This cover is preferably made of sheet metal or other suitable materialand is provided with a' central openings; for receiving the upperreduced end of the insulator block presently described, said cover beingalso provided with a vdelivery nozzle 5 having a vapor outlet 5 leadingfrom the interior of the upper end ofthe container between the centralopening 4 and marginal edge of the container as shown more clearly inFigure 2. f l

-The electric heater for vaporizlng the liquid in the container lcomprises, in this instance, a pair of similar L-shaped electrodes orplates 6 enclosed within and supported by an insulator block '7 in suchmanner that the`electrodes will be held in parallel vertical planes andin opposed spaced relation to form an intervening liquid gap 8 whichcommunicates with the exterior of the insulator block through an underlying vertical passage 9 and overlying lateral passages 10, saidpassages being arranged in planes below and above the correspondinglower and upper edges of the electrode plate 6 as shown more clearly inFigures 2 and 3.

.The electrode plates 6 are preferably made of sheet steel or othersuitable electric-conducting material andare each provided near theirouter edges with upwardly projecting odset extensions 6' which, when theelectrodes are placed in opei'ative position, will be arranged inreverse order Lor at .opposite sides of the longitudinal extensions 6 ofthe electrodes 6 to extend up-r wardly therefrom, -theupper end of eachstrip 11 being electrically and securely connected to the adjacent endsof suitable lead wires 12 which in turn are enclosed in insulatingsheathings 13' and are connected to an electric plug 13', the latterbeing adapted to be attached to any available electricA socket to whichcurrent is supplied from any available source of electric energy, not'shown, for supplying current to the electrodes 6. The combined lengthsof each of the electrodes f 6 with its extension 6' and leader strip 11is appreciably, less than the vertical height of the insulating block 7andl in like manner the transverse width of each electrode isappreciablyr less than the corresponding width of the insulating block,the object of which is'to permit each electrode with its extension 6 andleader strip 11 to b'e incorporated entirely within the marginal edgesof the insulating block in a manner .presently described so that in casethe cover 3 with the insulating block and electric heater 'f thereinshould be removed from the container 1 none of the electricallyenergized parts couldcome in contact with the hands of the user or anyother external objects, all of which gives reasonable assurance ofsafety from electric shocks or fires when the device is used by the mostcareless or unskilled operatives.

The'material from which the electrodes are constructed is adapted toresist disintegration through electrolytic action for as long a periodas possible but lobviously they willl need replacing when their eiciencyis seriously impaired and in order. that they may be properly assembledin the first instance and replaced'from time vto time the insulatorblock 7 is preferably composed of similar half sections 7 havingsubstantially'atmeeting faces abutting against each 'other when theelectrodes 6 with the ex- -tensions 6 and leader strips 11 are properlyassembled Within the insulating block.

In other words the insulating block 7 as a unit is substantially`rectangular and elongated vertically as well as transversely in onedirec'- tion, the transverse widthl being substantially less than thediameter of the opening 2 in the mouth of the bottle to permittheinsulator to readily pass therethrough, the vertical height of theinsulator block being appreciably less than the vertical depth of theinterior of the container 1 so as to leave a clear open space across thebottom and entirely around all sides of the insulator when the cap 3with the insulator thereon is lsecured in operative position upon themouth of the container.

It is now evident that when the level of the liquid within the containerhas been lowered by evaporation of the liquid below the lower edges ofthe electrodes 6 it will automatically open the heater circuit by reasonof the fact that the liquid formerly acting as a conductor between theelectrodes will then cease to act as such conductor and therefore anyfurther evaporation of the previous liquid charge will also cease. I

This automatic lopening of the heater circuit bythe recession of theliquid from the electrodes.

poses so long as theamount of liquid is sufficient to cover even a smallpart of the electrodes.

I have found that electrode plates of .relatively small area arranged ina denite relation to each other. and'to the circulating passages as 9and 10 are highly important in the'conservation of electric energy andrapidity of ebullition and resultant vaporization and one of the objectsof the present invention is to construct unit-supporting means for oneof the electrodes and its conducting strip so that when the two half`sections of lthe insulator are secured together face to face they willnot only secure the electrodes in operative position against relativemovement but will also hold them in the most the insulating sections andalso the electrode members and their leader strips -in such manner thateach half insulator section constitutes a ecient predetermined relationfor conserva-v tion of energy and rapidity of evaporation. To this endthe inner-adjacent sides of the insulator sections are provided withelectrode chambers or recesses 14, each having an upwardly projectingoiset extension branch 15,

which, together with the recesses 14, is substan tially L-shaped toconform more or less closely to the shape of the plate electrodes 6 andits extension 6', each half section 7 being also pro.

vided with a lengthwise groove orchannel 16 leading from the upper endof the extension 15 to an upper offset recess or channel 17 which inturn`communicates with the central length- Wise groove 18 in the upperend of the section 7 thus forming a continuous channel leading from theelectrode chamber 14 to the cover 3 for the reception of the conductors6', 11 and 12 of the electrodes 6. A

Each electrode 6 is seated in its like chamber 14 between'the passages 9and 10 so that theextensions 6' will lie in the corresponding' branchrecesses 15 while the conducting' strip 11 will be seated in the groove16.

The depth of each recess '.14 and its branch 15, is somewhat greaterthan the thickness of the corresponding electrode 6 and its extension 6so that when the conducting strips 11 of each electrode are seated onthe bottom of its grooves 16 and the two insulator sections are broughttogether face to face both of the electrodes 6 will be disposed inspaced relation at opposite sides of meeting faces of insulator sectionsto form the liquid gap 8 shown more clearly in Figure 2.

Under these conditions the upper ends of theA extensions 6 will be moreor less closely engaged with the upper end walls as 16' of the recesesA15 while the lower edges of the electrodes 6 willbe in more or lessclose engagement with the lower end walls of their respective recesses14 as shown in Figures 2 and 3. l

The lower passage 9 is centrally arranged in the bottom of the insulatorblock with approximately one-half of the opening in each of the- 'cularand arranged in transverse alinement in a plane directly over the upperedges of the main Abody of the electrodes 6 so that as the liquid it mayreadily flow outwardly in opposite directions through the passages 10and as converted into vapor the latter will readily collect in the upperpart of the receptacle to be discharged through the nozzle 5 into theroom in which th vaporizer is located.

The oiset recesses 17 in the inner faces of the upper portions of theinsulator sections 7' are also arranged in reverse order to receive theadjacent ends of the' insulated wires 12,.'

said wires with their insulated sheathingsl being passed outwardly fromthe upper ends of the strips 11 through the central lengthwise groovesor openings 18 for connection withy the plug 13.

When the electrodes 6 with their extensions 6 and strips 11 togetherywith the adjacent ends of the cables 12 are assembled in theirrespective recesses within the sections 7 the latter arebrought-together face to face and firmly clamped together by clampingbolts 19v which are passed through registering apertures in the sections7 along the longitudinal centers thereof, the threaded ends of the bolts19 being engaged by nuts 19'.

It will be observed upon reference to Figure 4 that the recesses 14extend across the longitudinal centers of the inner faces of theinsulator sections 7' equal distances therefrom and that the branchrecesses 15 and their grooves 16 will be arranged equal distances fromand at opposite sides of the longitudinal center of said insulatorsections when the latter are secured togetherV under which conditionsthe recesses 17 of the two sections will extend in opposite directionsfrom the centralopenings 18 the latter being then registered with eachother to receive the cables 12.

In order that the connections,.preferably soldered, between the upperends of the conducting strips 11 and adjacent ends of the conductors 12may have ample clearanceto allow the sections 7 to be brought togetherface to face, the adjacent portions'of said sections are provided withcircular recesses 20 into which said connections may be seated as thetwo insulator Sections are clamped together.

It is n'ow clear that when the connecting stripsl 11 are seated in theirrespective grooves 16 the outerface of each will be seated against thebottom of-its groove while the inner face of the same strip will-bemoreor less in close engagement with the inner flat face of the otherinsulator section, thereby assuring the maintenance of the electrodes infixed spaced relation against relative movement toward or from eachother with the assurance that the liquid gap 8 will always be the same.`

The upper ends of the half sections 7' are reduced in width to formsemi-cylindrical nipples 21 extending through the opening 4 in andbeyond the upper face of the lid 3 and forming end shoulders 22 atopposite sides of the nipples kbeing threaded externally nipple sections21 until the inner end of the nut engages the outer face of the cover,there-v by not only locking the upper endso'f the insulator sections toeach other but also locking the entire insulating block to the cover,said nut being provided with a central opening through which the cables12 are extended for attachment to the plug 14.

` Operation- When it is desired to use the device for vaporizing liquidthe cover 3 with the entire heating unit including the insulator block'7 may be removed from within the container to allow the latter toY belled more or less to any predetermined level above the lower edges ofthe electrodes 6 whereupon the cover 3 with the insulator block 7thereon, may be secured in operative position upon the top of thecontainer after which the plug 13 may be attached to an electric socketfor supplying-current to the electrodes 6.

The liquid which is then present in the -gap 8 between the electrodeswill be heated by the transit of the current from one electrode to theother through the intervening liquid until said liquid is vaporized andthe vapor allowed to pass out through the nozzle 5. This vaporizationmay continue until the liquid level drops below the lower edges of theelectrodes whereupon the liquid electric connection between theelectrodes will be broken with the resultant automatic breaking of theheater circuit.

During this vaporization of the liquid within the container said liquidis free to'ow upwardly through the passage 9 and thence through the gap8 and outwardly through the passages l0 as long as the liquid levelremains above the lower edges of the electrodes.

It will be observed that ,the water heating chamber or gap between theelectrodes is closed lili) and entirely confined Within the walls ofthe.

\ tion as closely as possible to the water heating chamber between theelectrodes and thereby to prevent ebullition in the upper portion of thecontainer which is automatically reserved for the reception of the vaporescaping from the passages 10 into the adjacent portions of thereceptacle for collection in the upper portion thereof and for finaldischarge through the nozzle 5, thusl preventinng any possibility ofescape of the liquid through the nozzle.

What I claim is.:-

1. In an electric vaporizer of the character described, a container forthe liquid to be vaporized having a removable cover and a vapor outlettherein, a pair of upright insulator sections secured to the cover andarranged in opposed abutting relation within the container and providedvwith similar electrode-receiving chambers in adjacent sides near thelower ends thereof,

and a pair of similar electrodes arranged in op- Y posed spaced relationwithin said chambers to form an intervening liquid space -in the planeof the abutting faces of said sections, each insulator section having anopening in the bottom wall of its recess below the correspondingelectrode and registering with said space and also provided with anopening in the side wall of its chambervabove the adjacent: electrodeand c'zonmiunicat'ingl with said` space to allow circulation of theliquidfrom the lower opening upwardly? through said space and outwardlythrough the side openings.

2. An electric vaporizer as in claim 1 in which the upper ends of theinsulator sections are-provided with reduced threaded extensions and anut engaging said extensions -for clamping ythe sections together.

3. An electric vaporizer as in claim 1 in which clamping bolts arepassed through transverse openings inthe insulator sections for clampingthem together face to face.

4. In an electric vaporizer of the character described, a container forthe liquid to be vaporized, opposed separable insulatorsectionssupported within the container in abutting relation and provided with anelectrode chamber in the opposite sides of their abutting faces, and aing portions of adjacent sides abutting against each other and otherportions of said adjacent sides provided withregisteringfelectrode-receiving chambers near rthe lower ends of thesections, channels leading upwardly from the chambers in laterallyoffset relation, and electrodes seated-in said chambers in' spacedrelation and provided with electric conductors seated inv theirrespective channels in spaced relation, said conductors being extendedto the-exterior of' the container for connection to a source of.electric supply. e'

6. In an electric vaporizer, the combination with a container for theliquid to'be vaporized having a removable cover provided with a vaporoutlet, of a pair of opposed insulator sections secured to the cover toextend downwardly therefrom into the containerand having adjacent sidesin 'abutting relation and provided with 4registeringvelectrode-receiving chambers near the lower ends thereof and channelsleading upwardly from the chambers, opposed electrodes seated' in saidchambers and having adropenings in both sections for holding -the latterin abutting relation. i

9. An electric vaporizer comprising a container having a removablecover, an insulator block abutting endwise against the underside of thecover and extending downwardly therefrom into said container and .havingits upper end provided with a reduced externally threaded vnippleextended through an opening in the cover, a nut engaging said nipple andupper face of the cover for -clamping thev insulator block to saidcover, and electrodes mounted on the insulator block and provided withmeans for connection to a source of current supply.

10. An electric vaporizer comprising a container having aremovableAcover, an insulator block abutting endwise against theunderside of the cover and extend d downwardly therefrom into saidcontainer d having its upper end provided with a reduced externallythreaded nipple extended through an opening in the cover, said insulatorblock being divided medially from end to end through the nipple to formopposite half sections, a nut engaging the nipple for clamping thesections to each other and to the cover, and electrodes seated inrecesses in the adjacent sides of the sections in spaced relation andprovided with conductors extend* ing through openings in the nipple andnut for connection with a source of current supply.

11..In an electric vaporizer, the combination with a container for theliquid to be vaporized having a removable cover provided withv a vaporoutlet, of `a pair of opposed insulator sections vseated in saidchambers and having adjacent sides disposed in spaced relation to allowthe.

passage of liquid between them, and means for securing the sectionstoeach other. A

12. Inanelectric vaporizer, the combination witha container for theliquid to be vaporized having a removable cover provided with a vapormeans for securing the sections to each other.l

7. In an electric vaporlzer, the combination with acontainer having aremovable cover provided with' a vapor outlet, of an insulator block'extending downwardly from the cover into the opposed spaced relation,and'electric conductors outlet, .of a unitary electrode6 and insulatorstructure suspended from the cover and extending into the liquid, saidunitary structure comprising a pair of opposedinsulatqr sectionshavingadjacent sides in abuttingA relationship and chambers formedtherein and channels extending upwardly from said chambers, a pair ofelectrodes mounted in said chambers, .means for Ysecuring the linsulatorsections together whereby the electrodes are retained by thev insulatorsections in spaced relationship and against turning, said insulatorsections beingat least partly open between the electrodes toenable freecirculation of the liquid to be'vaporized therebetween, and a pair ofconductors mounted in said channels and secured to the electrodes forconducting current thereto.v

' MAX KA'I'ZMAN.v

connected to their respective electrodes and ex-

